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Provide a summary of American history up to 1899. Output:
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American history up to 1899 began with the arrival of the first colonists in the early 1600s. In 1776, the United States declared independence from Britain and the Revolutionary War began, with the young nation ultimately becoming an independent state. The United States established the Constitution and formed a strong government to lead the nation. During the 1800s, the country underwent tremendous growth and expansion with the rise of slavery, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Mexican–American War. The Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1865. In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson case, effectively legalizing racial segregation in schools, workplaces, and public accommodations. The end of the 19th century saw the emergence of a powerful industrial nation with a strong economic system and a powerful military—the United States of 1899.